Well cementing



Feb. 23, 1937. E. `v. CROWELL WELL CEMENTING Filed Dec. 5, 1932 lllllllllfllllllllallllnlsul!!! INVENTOR. Ef/d 1./ Cpanel "a w Q ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 23, 1937.

, UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE cnMEN'rnvG seamcrewed me Angeles, celu. Appneauenmeeemliel- 5, 1932, serial No. '645,656

anonime.

x cement at dieren't levels from za casing string which has an open 'more of :unrestricted crosssectional area prior dm theec'ementing operation, and which is adapted 'Sto 'be L eddo'utjto the same unrestrictedboresubsequenttoithe cementc) o minimum successive reduction "in `diameter may be received one within :another or increasing the depth of the well 1larrhile maintaining the bore of the casing of maximum :and -usual drilling operations may be 4 continued 'through' the casing. and fluid cn'culation all in accordance with present practice.

It is a further object 'oi the invention to discharge cement at one level pressure oi.'

a column of hydraulic duid filling the entire 3o length of the casing string' above the cement, andtothen dischargetheiiuidstanding in the casing above a higher level at which another batch of cement is to be with addi-- tional cement then ejected at said level Aby the pressure o f a column of hydraulic fluid whichagainiillstheeniirelengthoi'thecasing string above the additional cement. l

Further objects of theinvention will be readily understood from the following description or the. accompanying drawing, which shows a preferred means for carrying ont the improved process. and in which: u

Figs. 1,2,and3 areveriicalsectionsthrough a string of casing receivedin a wellbcre, and illustrating the successive Steig of the cementing operation.

Fig. 4` is a transverse ot Fig. 3. Y

Figs.5and6 arefragmentaryviews similarto Fig. 2, showing modications of theinventlon. The cementlng operation may be carried on in connectionwithausual stringotwellcasing AwhichisreceivedinawellboreB; andin 55 additiontotheusualmacticeiriceing operation, so thats. yplurality of'strings of sci :tiouontheline-I---l (Cl. 16S-21) ment at oradjacentthe lower end of the casing string, the invention provides for ejecting ce.- ment at .one-.oramorehigher levels, with the casing string having `an unrestricted open Vhere priortol the .'cementing-operation and adapted to be A`drilled-:out .so :as to provide the same '1unrestricted open there lsubsequent to discharge of cement, :and `vwith athe cement ejected at each -of .the predetermined levels by the Apressure of hydraulic `.iluid above -the cement and lling'the entire 'length :of the lcasing string to the earths surface.

For purpose, :and :at .each level above 'the lower end of the leasing .string where it may be desired to .discharge additional cement, a fixed section 2 y.ofthe Vusing string has ports 3 in-its side wail, a yplurality of these successively higher ported sections being shown at Fig. 1. Aside from the ported sections 2 the casing string may have a usual open bore -of uniform cross-sectional area as shown at Figs; 1 and 6; and the bores of the ported sections. 2 form open and unrestricted continuations of this uniform bore, with the exterior diameters of the ported sec tions substantially the same'as the exterior ,di-

ameters of usual coupling collars for the lengths ot the casing string. The bore of the string being thus unrestricted throughout its length,

. usual drilling operations may beA carried on through the string and iluid may be circulated i in usual manner; and -if in accordance with usual practice one or more successivelysmaller casing strings are to be lowered through the rst string for increasing the depth oi.' the well, any of the `smaller strings may be provided with ported sec tions 2 at the levels where it may be' desiredto discharge additional cement, and since these ported sectionsof a string do not increase its maximum exterior diameter nor restrict the erom-sectional area of its bore, there need be but minimum reduction in the' size of the successively smaller strings, and as a consequence the ilnal bore of the casing may be oi' appreciable size. asis of extreme importance when the weil is put on production.

The lateral ports 3 oi' sections lare normally closedsothatailuidsuchasawashingmedium ior cementitious material may be directed downwardlythrough-the unrestrictedbore oi the casing to its lower end: and when the well is to be cemented, a batch oi cement is preferablyrst diseharged'at the lower en d of the casing string,

'and the bore or the casing is-then shut-oit below the ports of a section A2 which is at the level where it is desired todischarge additional ce-l I5 expand the slips ment, and the ports 3 of said section are opened for discharge oi cement.

Initial discharge of cement at the lower end of the casing string may bein accordance with any usual practice; and as shown in Figs. l and 2 is via a cementing shoe or casing section 2B having normally closed lateral ports 3*. The sections 2 and 2 are oi similar construction, the bore of each section being annularly recessed as shown at 5, with a sleeve valve 6 slidable in said lrecess to open or close the, cooperating lateral ports, and the bore of 'the sleeve valve forms an unrestricted continuation 'of the bore of the casing string. The sleeve valve is normal- `ly held in position overlying and closing its cooperating lateral ports, as for example by a spring 1, with the annular recess 5 forming an enlargement of the bore of the casing above the sleeve valve. Valves II are preferably provided for ports 3 and 3 at the exterior of sections 2 and 2e, and are adapted to open responsive to pressure of outward discharge through the ports 3-3, when the corresponding sleeve valves 6 have beenopened, but are adapted to automatically close against back-flow through the ports, irrespective of the position oi the cooperatingsleeve valves.

A plug 4 cooperates with each of the ported sections 2, and a plug 4 cooperates with the ported section 2*. Each of these plugs has slips I2 which are radially retracted while the plug is being lowered in the well casing, with packing I4 on the plug maintaining fluid tight engagement withthe casing bo're; and when the plug alines t I2 so as to engageiand open sleeve valve 6, and then anchor the,'".plug ,with its packing I4 shutting-oil the bore of; the .casing below the cooperating lateral lAs shown in Figl, the recesses 5 fof the successively higher sections 2*-2 are oli-successivevand anchoring therein,

1y reduced length.; and the slips lzzoftheplugs 4--4'L are of different length corresponding to the recesses 5 of their cooperating sections 2-2, so that when one of the plugs'is lowered into the" casing, its slips I2 will pass the shorter 'recesses 5 of higher ported sections without expanding and will thus anchor only at the ported section with which the plug is adapted to cooperate. vIt will'thus be seen that by successively lowering plugs having slips corresponding in length tothe recesses ofv predethe lports of selected ported sections may be successively opened for discharge of cement.

` is then lowered into.

Prior to lowerlnglone or more of the plugs into the casing string, and with the sleeve valves 3 in normal closed position and the casing string elevated from the bottom of the well bore. circulation may be readily established downwardly through the casing and thence upwardly in the surroimding well, vsince the unrestricted bore of the casing is open-fior ilow of uuid throughout its length: and a plug having slips I2 correspending' to the recessl of the ported section, at which cement is toy be initially the casing.. It in accord-.

with usual practice. in itlldichsrgeo( cement is to beat the lowerl endfoi' the casing. st ringfitis the plugV 4*.' adapted for cooperation with ported-section' 2', w joh is initiallylowieredf intoth'e casing in back o! 'the dium which i, a predetermined quantity .of cement is in-,

' plug 4 which is to be with its cooperating recess -E," springs is preferably a solid plug. with a traveling plug Il in back of the cement, and a column of h ydraulic fluid abovel the travelingV plug and extending to the top of the well. The circulating medium in advance of plug 4EL is thus discharged from the open lower end of the casing by the pressure in back of plug i1, so that the plug 4 is finally anchored in ported section 2 as shown in Fig.2, thereby opening'the ports 3a and shutting-off the bore of the casing below the open ports. The pressure on plugl Il then forces the cement through the ports 3 so as to open valves II for discharge into the surrounding well bore, with the plug Il seating on the anchored plug 4a when all of the cement has been discharged, and the valves II then closing against back-flow ofsthe cement.

Additional cement may then be ejected at a ported section 2 which is at a selected higher level, by lowering into the casing one of the plugs 4 which has slips I2 corresponding to the selected ported section. `The plug 4 is lowered through the column of hydraulic f luid standing in the casing, and for this purpose `each of the plugs 4 has a bore 25, normally closed by an upwardly opening valve 26; and as shown in Fig. 2 the lowered into the casing, is forced downwardly by a suitable stringof tools C, and its valve 26 opens to permit the plug being readily lowered A to its operative position alining with the correspending ported section 2 and opening its sleeve Valve 5. j v

` When the plug 4`has been anchored in its-cor responding ported sectionfand the tool string C.

ing in the casing above the anchored plug, and

the column oi' iluid, which is separated from the Icenient by a plug 21. is thus discharged through the open 'ports 3 by the pressure of a column of hydraulic uid above` the cement and separated therefrom by a travelingplug AI'I. thus eventually seats on anchored plug 4,` and .as shown in Fig. 3 the packing 21a of plug 21 is adapted to then yield so thatthe cement is ejected through portsA 3, with the traveling plug I1 finally seating on' plug 21, and the uuid column above the traveling plug extending to the earths surface.

After the cement has set, the oeration may be repeated-for discharge of cement at a ported sec-l tion 2 which is at a selected higher level, a plug 4 having slips I2 of a length to cooperate with the recess 5 of the selected ported section being forced downwardly through the Afluid column standing in the well casing, by means of tool string C, and with the valve 28 oi! the plug opening for passage cfg/the fluid as previously described. The plug 4 is thus anchored in the selected section and the ports 3 areopened, so

that when the tool string C has been withdrawn,

- the 'column of .uid standing in the casing above the anchored plugan'd a predetermined quantity oi! cement which is introduced into the casing in back of the fluid andl separated therefrom byv a plug 2l, may besuccessively ejected through the open ports by a column otfluid above and sepirom the cement by a traveling plug I1 and fe' y nding to the earths surface. It .desired the `foperation may -be repeated at a selected portedfsection at a still higher level.'

'.Ihe Ilnitialdischar'gevo! cement at the lower a ot; the casing string, as -preterably employed through the hydraulic iiuid.:

in connection with subsequent ejection of cement at selected higher levels, may be by any usual means other than For example, the lower end of thecasing string may have a usual valve-controlled cementing shoe as shown in Fig. 5, adapted for usual initial discharge of a circulating medium, with the cement which is to be discharged from the valvular shoe then forced downwardly through the casing between a Y-plug 3l anda traveling plug l1, and the Y-plug being adapted to anchor at the shoe 30, with its packing -3IaL then yielding -for passage of the cement so that it may iiow through the Y-port of the plug for discharge from the valvular shoe, and the cement being forced downwardly by a column of hydraulic fluid above the traveling plug I1, with the fluid extending to the top of the well and through which a plug 4 is adapted to be subsequently lowered as previously described, when additional cement is to be discharged at a selected higher level.

As shown in Fig. 6, initial discharge of cement at the lower end of the casing may be via a usual' column. of hydraulic shoe 35, with a washing medium initially circulated in usual manner, and a batch of cement then forced downwardly through'the casing be tween a lo'wer plug 36 and an upper traveling plug I1, and with a'column of hydraulic iluid above the traveling plug and extending to the earths surface. The plug 36 drives the washing medium before it and is finally ejected from shoe 35, so that the cement'is discharged-into the surrounding well bore with the plug l1 nally and when additional ceanchoring on plug 36; ment is to be subsequently ejected at a selected higher level, a plug 4 is lowered @hrough the above the anchored traveling plug, and is anchored at its cooperating ported section at the selected higher level, as previously described.

The invention thus provides for cementing a well at a plurality of predetermined levels as integral operations, with the cement .ejected at each selected level by a column of the earth's surface and adapted for subsequent discharge from the casing from above the selected level and in advance of subsequent discharge of cement ata higher level; and by selectively discharging cement 4at diierent levels, any desired portion of the casing string may be readily cemented-nifl?. The construction also provides an unobstructed' bore f or circulation of a fluid medium for removing debris prior to any integral cementing operation, since before lintroducing the cement the bore of the casing is open for iiow of fluid downwardly therethrough to a selected level and thence upwardly exteriorly thereof; and after the cement has been discharged from the casing and has set in the surrounding well bore, the plugs in the casing string may be readily drilledout in usual manner so as to clear the casing..

l. The method of cementing casing in a well bore, which includes circulating hydraulic fluid through the-casing, and while retaining the hydraulic uid in the casing to a level above that of normally closed ports in the side wall of the casing, opening said ports and closing the bore of the casing below said ports, discharging through the open ports the hydraulic fluid standing in the casing above said ports, and thenv electing cement open ports.

from the casing through the 2. The method of cementing casing in a weil that hereinbefore described.-

fluid standing in ythe well iluid extending to bore, which includes circulating hydraulicl fluid through the casing, and While retaining the hydraulic fluid in the casing to a level above that of normally closed ports in the side wall of the casing, lowering a plug through said hydraulic iluid for opening the ports and closing the bore of the casing below said ports, andthen establishing circulation downwardly through the'casing and outwardly through said open ports.

3. The method of cementing casing in 'a'well bore, which includes circulating hydraulic uid through the casing, and while retaining the hydraulic iiuid. in the casing to a level above that of normally closed ports in the side wall of the casing, lowering a plug through said hydraulic fluid for opening the ports and closing the bore of fthe casing below said ports, discharging through the open ports the hydraulic uid standing in the casing above said ports, and then ejecting cement from the casing through the open ports.

4. The method of cementing casing in a well bore, which includes circulating hydraulic fluid through a strin'g of casing having an open bore which is unrestricted throughout its length, and while retaining the hydraulic .fluid in the casing to a level above that of normally closed ports in the side wall of the casing, opening said ports and closing the bore of the casing below said ports, discharging through-the open ports the vhydraulic iuid standing in the casing above said ports, and then ejecting cement from the casing through the open ports.

5. The method of cementing casing in a well bore, which includes discharging cement at the lower end of the casing 'by a column of hydraulic' uuid renamed in the casing in back of the cement v and extending above a predetermined 4higher level at which additional cement is to be subsehigher level the hydraulic uid standing in the casing above said level, and then electing cement` from the'casing at said higher level.

'1. The method of cementing casing in a well bore, which includes through the casing and retaining said hydraulic fluid inthe casing to a point above a predetermined level at which cement is to be ejected, discharging from the casing at said level the hydraulic iiuid staning in the casing above said level, ejectlng cement from the casing at said.

level by a column of hydraulic fluid retained in the casing in back of said cement and extending above a predetermined higher level at which additional cement is to be subsequently ejected, and then establishing circulation downwardly through the casing and outwardly therethrough Vat said higher level.

8. The method of cementing casing'in a well bore, which includes circulating hydraulic iiuid through. the casing and retaining said hydraulic fluid in the casing to a level above that of normally closed ports inthe side wall of the casing,

lowering a plug through said hydraulic fluid for first opening the ports and then closing the bore the casing at said circulating hydraulic uid Aof the casingv below said Portef-.introducing ceuid in back ofthe cement being retained in the ment into the casing in back of the hydraulic :duid and separated 'therefrom by abarrier, and forcing the cement downwardly by hydraulic fluid in back of the cement and separated therefrom by a barrier, so astovdis'chargejhrough the open ports the hydraulic iluid between thepiug and the rst -mentioned barriergand then,V cause said first mentioned barrier to yield lfor Vdischarge loirgf the cement through the openports" g,

9. The method of'cementing casingdri-falle bore, which includes circulating hydraulic fluid through the casing and retaining said hydraulic fluid-in the casing to a level above that of .norv-v mally closed ports in the'side wall of the casing, lowering a plug through said hydraulic fluid for rst opening the ports and then closingA the bore 4of thel casing below said ports, introducing cement intothe vcasing in back of the hydraulic fluid and separated therefrom-by'asbarrier. forcing the cement downwardly by hydraulic fluid in back of the cement and separated therefrom by a barrier, so as to discharge through the open ports the hydraulic uid between the plug and ,the .first mentioned barrier. and then cafise said first mentioned barrier to yieldy for discharge of the cement through the open ports, the hydraulic casing toa-level above that of additionaly normally closed ports in the side wall of the casing, lowering4 a plug through said hydraulic uid for opening the last mentioned ports and closing the bore of the casing below said ports, and then est'ablishing 'circulation downwardly through'the casing and outwardly through said open ports;

10. Themethodof cementing casing in a well bore, which includes discharging cement from the casing by a column of hydraulic fluid retained in the casing in back of the cement and extending above normally closed ports in the side wall of the casing, lowering a. plug through said @hydraulic uid for rst openingthe ports and 4then closing the bore of the casing below said ports, introducing cement into the casing in back of the hydraulic fluid and separated therefrom by a barrier, and'forcing the cement d"own wardly by hydraulic uid in back of the cement and separated therefrom by a barrier, so as to discharge through the open ports the hydraulic f fluid between the plug and the first mentioned barrier, and then'cause said rst mentioned barrier to yield for discharge ofthe cement throug the open ports. V ERD V. CROWELL.

February 1937'. Disclaimer filed November 14, 1939, with-@mmm Hflg 612m ,claimen 4 5, mnd 7 v0f'mi:ipgypwm f 'lWaammmbflgl" x 

